Field Notes- Tuesday, January 31st. Snowed overnight- a few additional inches.

 

I am looking forward to Spring.  The images I have been choosing to show here are getting brighter...pinker if that is a word.  I don't know where this image is from.......But I liked it.  Little Something's blog and the artist is Marisa Anon.-  I had written the info on my desk calendar. Way to go Joanne!!!!

I made soup for husband.  He forgot how to put all the individual parts into separate containers.  It's like he looked at the pot of soup and blanked out.  This memory loss business is really strange...... I would imagine it would be as frightening to him (as it is for me) but...he doesn't remember....so it is just- hey what am I supposed to do here????  We found the stuff he needed and he filled the quart jars with soup.

He is having to pee a lot.  But he is remembering to pee in the bathroom. There will be a tipping point moment when he forgets.  That will be a difficult time for both of us.......

Isn't my Life jolly???

Well, I am guessing we'll be shoveling snow today.  Not going anywhere.  I am reading Mr Wrong Number and want to go to the bookstore and order it.  To own.  I checked in the Library thing- to see if Lynn Painter has written any other books- yes...but they are YA books. I reserved one. I have read and enjoyed YA books that my Favorite Library Employee recommends..... sigh.  So why not more of them???

I got a box of low sodium soup cubes.  And I will make Dee's Pantry Soup.  I had to dump the last pot in the compost (remember) as it was so salty......one more try.  I peeled and segmented the bag of red grapefruit and it's ready to be added to Honey Noosa yogurt and Bran Buds....my new LUNCH. I used to make this to eat at work in the Spring at the Greenhouse.  Good memories.

Field Notes- Monday, January 30th. Early. Sunshine. But cold.

 Morning Exit into the yard.   Chickens are interesting. (not my chickens)

The Bengals lost.  There was a point where they had a chance.....but the 49ers are nasty.  I only watched the game because of the Bengals.  I find the War Chant to be hugely offensive and usually change the channel as soon as I hear it........I often wonder what the Indian Nation thinks...

My Master Gardener friend Patty came to visit yesterday afternoon.  She wore her mask while in the house with us.  We talked, laughed and discussed things.  Husband showed her all his coloring pages.  She hadn't been in the house since COVID began. Years.  Asked me where all my furniture went.......asked why I didn't buy new stuff.  I think I don't buy new because I don't think I will be living here much longer.....people keep asking and my feeling now is the getting rid of things is the start of the "Long Goodbye" as old people call it.  It sort of snuck up on me.........but it makes sense.

Patty also told me to throw my heavily mended sweater in the garbage can.  That comment is for DebL who also thinks I should do that.  I told Patty that I never wear the sweater out in public unless I am wearing something (raincoat or winter coat) over it.  No one sees it.  Unless they come into my house.

Patty brought me a half dozen red roses and two donuts. She always brings gifts.  G and I had the donuts as dessert after we had Football Pizza which was very very good.  Sunday Pizza just keeps getting better......the donuts- from a gas station- were also very very good.

As soon as husband finishes his breakfast we are going to the grocery store.  Our list is long. We are out of so many things.  The fridge looks empty.  I needed a larger grocery piece of paper for the list this week. I usually just have a post it note.  Not this week.  Husband polished off his soup and his chicken dinners. I  have my fingers crossed that there are some dinners in the cooler case when we get there.  I can make soup when we get home but I will buy more chicken thighs and bag and freeze them..... get carrots, onion and celery.....noodles.  I am also buying salt free bullion cubes.  I am having trouble with salt.  It tastes too "much" to me these days.......I even buy 60% less salt potato chips.  Hard to find. so not having chips as often or not at all.   Cherries are supposed to be on sale today.  I like pitting them and adding to my yogurt.

Well, now that you are updated on my shopping list.....I have nothing more to write...We are up way too early even though I had the impression that I had slept late.

Field Notes- Chilly in the House. Yesterday outside in the 40's. Wreath's down, Dog Visit.

 Might have been here already.  I am trying to clean out the file of pictures.  They are so small that I can't identify them.  Some have titles which helps. I have wanted chairs covered in patchwork for eons.

My Black Bean soup experiment went into the compost pile.  I hope the visiting squirrels and birds enjoy it.  The beans refused to get soft.......and I wasn't excited about eating "sort of" crunchy beans.

Today is Pizza.  I planned ahead.  The ball of Beer Dough is softening and warming up.  We'll have it during or near the end of the Bengals game.  The betting line is even.  so. Depends on who does the best job I guess or who makes the mistake...... 

I am out of Wine.  I have plenty of Whine.

I am reading - for the third or fourth time--Mr Wrong Number. Author is Painter.  I have to stop by the local bookstore and order a copy ....... the guy has just figured out who MissDial is.  I really love this book.  The woman is such a Hot Mess.  I have a hundred or more pages to go before she gets her heart broken.  His too.  I actually like the books where a happy ending is so far from what might happen......the Emma Project was heartbreaking toward the end.  So, what I am saying is...I like a book that makes me cry.  Three books on my stack are going back unread...... I was choosing with the Library prompt of 'if you liked.....you might like....." I think it's 30 to 40 percent accurate. Need a better algorithm.

I did a load of clothes yesterday  and folded them this morning.  Clean undies.

The Christmas Wreaths on the front porch are now down and stored. with help of Twin's Dad....while that was happening the Twin's Dog was visiting me in the house.  He was by the back door and I opened it and he came in. His owner was shocked. "Fenway never goes in people's houses".  Well, he did.  And he walked the entire house going into every room. He spent time sniffing the carpet Riley used to sleep on.  The Twin's dad said they are thinking of getting another......same breeder. So that will be fun.  Fenway was ADORABLE in his first year.  We also found out that the ice skating pond in the front yard (Twins House) has lights embedded in the ice.  G and I have to go down at night to see.......

The boys have a ton of energy......so the night time hockey.......is a great thing...for the parents.

Field Notes- Saturday, January 28th. 30 degrees, What didn't get shoveled is now ICE.

 Small birds are eating the seeds we have in the bird feeder (not these birds in the photo).  Squirrels running around eating seeds that fall out of the bird feeder.  Very busy........

It's quiet here.  Husband is going out to Bed Bath etc to get the "big box of coffee pods" before BBB closes for good. There's quite a bit of that going on..... Chain stores/chain restaurants closing.. becoming places to buy "medicinal drugs". 

Funny funny story.  Back in the Day....when the growing of certain plants was illegal.....I was the go to person for growing and maintaining knowledge of these sorts of "plants" at the greenhouse where I worked..   The guys had fat wallets chained to their back pockets full of one hundred dollar bills........ and discussed  "the Product" with me.  I made sure I read all the packaging on products they were interested in- so the plants were safe to "ingest".  We never actually used those terms....because I wasn't supposed to "know" what I was talking about.  I would read something that bothered me and then point to it and let them read it and then let them decide.  Usually, they put it back on the shelf. A few times...we actually discussed what would benefit the leaves.

I got very good at it and the Mother Ship Greenhouse started buying things for the shelving that looked like it was specifically for the "product".  I am guessing they were getting the same sort of customers and legally, things were getting looser..

We also started stocking a wide variety of "Grow Lights".  which I had to know all about......

Right now we (husband and I) are watching a local "eye glasses" place that used to be a bank.  There are usually 12 to 15 cars PARKED in the drive thru.  Every time we drive past I count them.  Could have become a call center. Could have become almost anything.  Certainly NOT an eye glasses place.

I'd say 50% of the businesses on that busy road are now boarded up or looking very odd.  The local motel seems to be closed......usually there were homeless people begging out front or making "tents" out of tarps etc on the lawn.. That all seems to hav gone away....... People still "camp" in the Walmart Parking lot after the store closes. Usually older people..which is very sad.

Field Notes- Friday January 27th- Feels really cold in the house.

 Buddhist Monk's Hands.

Very cold this morning and our land line phone doesn't work.  Here in Maine cell phones are iffy.  Now, I guess the land line is also.  I was trying to call in a refill of a prescription.  

This simple task stressed husband out to his maximum limits.  He couldn't figure out how to make a call on his cell phone. It's things like this that really put my Life in sharp focus........and I don't like what I see.

So.....prescription is called in.  House phones (land line) not working.........

I have black beans which have soaked overnight. And need to be rinsed and "washed" and then I can start cooking.  I forgot to write down how long to cook......damn.

Everything else is on the card but that.......

Well. Perhaps husband is not the only one here who no longer should be in a household setting unsupervised.  If he had just made the call...he would have done fine- but having to do it and thinking about it.- he didn't have thinking processes to do it. As a reflex, he would have been fine.  An example: if he just goes out and starts the snow blower or lawn mower everything is fine.  If he thinks about it..he can't figure it out.  

I imagine myself sitting in front of my sewing machine not understanding how it works.  Where do I turn it on.  I do it by rote so many times......but to stop and think...that's where the memory issues show up.

Field Notes- Wednesday, January 25th. Streets are clear and dry. Another Storm coming.

 Hair cut.  Bird seed purchased.  Fresh Pot of  Chicken Soup started.  Books picked up at Library.  Bread Purchased at grocery store (for me)-- also Raisin Bagels and cream cheese.  I know.... not a balanced portfolio. 

I am trying to find out what the Bengals QB and Sweatpants is all about.......... I might Google.

The Vitamix Cookbook looks to have similar things to the regular cookbook that comes with the machine. I was looking for something else.  You see......I use the Vitamix as I would use any tool in the kitchen. Not for an entire recipe...but for part or parts of the recipe.  Like when I blended the figs and sugar.  I was supposed to let it cook and them mash and do something else like push through a sieve.  I just Vitamixed.

So I want to know some of those "tricks" and "shortcuts" but the Vitamix Universe seems to want controlled usage.....for safety sake and no lawsuits, I guess.  I want to color outside the lines of Vitamix. Way outside the lines.  I used to watch this restaurant cooking show- real kitchens real chefs (not GuyF)

and I watched what they did with their Vitamix- and it wasn't book recipes.......

I tossed all the Broth I had in the Pantry Cupboard.  2019.  I must have been "into" broth that year.  The Trader Joe Marinara is also gone. Way expired.  Husband stopped eating pasta with Sausage Marinara. The Spice drawer looks good. I tossed 89% of it- expired.  Drawer looks empty.

I need to work shelf by shelf in the Pantry Cupboard but...that's so boring.  I just open the door and select something and read the expired date and then take it to the sink and open and either dump in compost bucket or down the drain. And then the same for multiples of that....I need to get rid of black olives next. Way over-expired.  Maybe next week.   So that's it. I had a nice shower this morning.  My hair looks fine.

The Beans are good to eat....not expired.  Black ones and white ones.  If I could just think of something to make with them.....soup? Yes.  They were bought to make Dee's Pantry Soup.  But the last few times I made the soup- way too salty to eat......  I'm sort of Soup Shy.......last pot went directly to compost bin.

I have black bean recipes to look at- Corn and Black Bean Salad.  Not for winter???  Texas Black Bean Soup- stewed tomatoes,  diced tomatoes, broth and Mexican Corn.  I do have a Black Bean Bisque recipe card in the Recipe Box.  I might go there........I remember loving that soup and it seems perfect for the Vitamix as the two gals running the restaurant did use one..........  Beans get to be Bisque....... 

Field Notes- January 24th. Snow has Stopped. About 12 inches- possibly more.

 So....the snow has stopped falling from the sky.  It's heavy dense snow.  High water content. I shoveled the front steps and then gave up.  The weight of the snow itself and the added weight of my very heavy black wool coat...was too much.  My heart and lungs- well, the lungs mostly...were signaling I should stop. I did.  I found my hat.  My Winter Shoveling Hat.  All is Right in my World.

Another fat fly.  My count was off- I think this was nine.  

Reading "the Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks" by Shauna Robinson.  Her first book was Must Love Books-- ( I read it all the way to the end..but it was tedious bordering on whining.)  This one was better. but still not something I would buy.

The inside cover had many praises from authors of books I do like and do own.. Abby Jimnez's Part of Your World: Freya Sampson's Last Chance Library.  And Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka's The Roughest Draft, Sutanto's Dial A for Aunties and Kelly Harms the Overdue Life of Amy Tyler.  Also Sajni Patel's the Trouble with Hating You.

I haven't read the Lonely Hearts Bookclub by Gilmore or the Chicken Sisters by Dell'Antonia or A Hundred Other Girls by Hariri-Kia.  They are on my list now.

Husband has gone to the dentist to get his teeth cleaned.  Then we will venture out to the grocery and the library.  Then home.  Husband spilled gasoline on himself yesterday while using the snowblower- and now that is all I smell.  Here in the house. Giving me a headache.  He can't smell anything. He spilled gas in the car a few weeks ago- I still smell it.

I emptied one shelf in the Pantry.  Expired Food.  It's now in the compost bucket. Expired in 2020 and 2021.   So, It's been in there for awhile.  Pre pandemic for sure. I will do another next week. Or sooner if I am bored out of my head......again. I was yesterday.

I read in the paper that COVID will be with us for years to come.......an Annual Shot.  Like the Flu. Constantly updated vaccines due to the changes in the virus.......as it tries in variations to kill us. And take over Planet Earth.   (laughing)  Or possibly not laughing......

Field Notes- Monday, January 23rd. Snow over night. Hoping the Stormy Weather has passed over us.

 I didn't select any images of SNOW.  But Clouds..In My Coffee???

The Bengals...gosh that was fantastic.......The quarterback is so...ZEN?  And the snow.

I watched and husband sorted out the new puzzle pieces.  Finding the edges. He thinks the puzzle is "too hard".  I put the edges together as best I could.  We'll need to make some adjustments.

He's started up the snowblower to clear the drive- after that- Library and the grocery store.  George  (daughter's old landscaping partner) thinks I'm at the Library  "too much".   Once a week?  but George isn't there 'Too Much" seeing me???????  

Did any of you happen to watch MSNBC on Friday, I think?  Nicole Wallace had what looked like a surprise guest in the second half of the show.  He walked up and stood next to the desk and she looked shell shocked.  The DA who did all the January 6th interviews- the taped ones.  Tall and, my goodness, was that guy good looking or what????  I now wish I taped it.

He just made himself at home.  Wow.

So, My oatmeal beeped and is ready to eat.....gotta go.  Joanne.

Discovered, with the 7th big fat black fly- that they had set up housekeeping on the windowsill behind husband's couch. (we each have our own couch)- there is a radiator there so they stayed nice and cosy.  it's all cleaned up now.... Gag.

Field Notes- Sunday, January 22nd. Chilly. Snow everywhere but the clean steps, sidewalks (my own) and driveway..

 The Moon.  My supply of photos from the free photo site is running low.  I had way too many and it clogged up the computer- wasn't able to shut down.  So I had to do some computer house cleaning. Cleaning out the deleted files.  This image is very soothing.....

I need to cook today.  Chop vegetables etc.  Husband has Soup.  I am not sure what I want to have. Yesterday I finally had a second meal of pancakes.  Not the best choice but it involved only mixing dry with water and cooking.  I was up to doing just that.  Today I will try to actually make something. It might be macaroni and cheese-(Kraft)... I didn't buy Pizza Dough.  Not even Football Pizza.

We gave up on ordering pizza long ago.... mine is better. Even with store bought dough.

Tomorrow is grocery day.  My list is now two post it notes long. Husband needs more soup noodles. The major percentage of his Food Groups is Pasta.

I am thinking it's time for my friend down the street and I to have Lunch. Wine. Whine. Dessert.

I did another load of wash.  I still have one to go.  The sweater I have on is disintegrating as I wear it. By the Day.  The Hour.  The Minute.

My Plan, dear Readers, was that my Beloved Sweaters would last as long as I did.  My Plan......well, I can see that I will live longer than the sweaters........and that is terrible news. I recall the sorrow in Riley's eyes as I mended- repeatedly- his little squirrel and rabbit fur toys....But..the toys did survive him. I say hello to them each time I open the little shoe closet.......they all are on the eye level shelf..... that's where I will fold and stack the sweaters when they give up.....when I give up.......add their Future to the Estate Book. Yes, I am feeling my AGE today.....I am tired.  Cold.  I need to chose a book.......Football later today.

Field Notes- Sunshine, 40 degrees, Weather reports suggest Rain, Storm, Ice- but I can't see how?

 I selected quite a few images from an interesting site.  Most of the ones I have left - are just random..so I can't write a post that relates to the image- I can sometimes but not 100%.

I love this image.  I love space......... 

I woke up late and decided to take a shower.  Then got a phone call. So the shower had to wait. But I did manage to get it in.  My hair feels all clean and smooth.  I washed clothes yesterday.  We were out of underwear.  I also made another pot of Chicken Soup for husband.  And we have killed three more BLACK FAT Flies.  In the house.  They are living and eating somewhere.......... they fly around slow and loopy.  Easy enough to swat.  Total of SIX if you are counting. I am.  Three each for husband and I.

Daughter is  home- Friday and Saturday days off.   She called to "chat" as she had nothing better to do.  I did......that shower I wanted to take.

I finished off the Cookies and Cream ice cream.  Last evening.  Today, I really need to actually eat food. Like meal food.....not dessert food.  and NOT Potato Chips.  They aren't a vegetable. 

Nothing much else to say.  It's VERY December Like outside the windows.  Lots of piled up white SNOW.  40 degrees, though. 3:35pm and I need to turn on lights.  I actually just finished eating breakfast.

Yes.  I just finished eating BREAKFAST....... the day has certainly gone to Hell in the Proverbial Handbasket.

Field Notes- the Weather Report got it right. SNOW. About 5 or 6 inches of very light powder. the snowblower is running.

 How many sets of dice would it take to make this....do you think?  boxes and boxes.

Husband used the snowblower to walk out to the end of the driveway to get today's newspaper and yesterday's mail.  He's coming in to eat breakfast.  I shoveled off the front steps.

The Weather Report was correct......

I finished a very good book last night before going to bed-  Meet Cute by Helena Hunting.  They knew each other in Law School and are meeting up again at 30.  Number one and two in their Law School Class. I ordered all the books by this Author from various and assorted Libraries in Maine.  It is taking awhile for them to arrive. And so I read them out of order.

Santos and the Sick Dog Go Fund Me.  Taking the money for himself.  I don't think I have ever witnessed something like this.......well, the guy who chopped up his wife and dumped her in different dumpsters around Town......that is hard to understand as well (he's wondering how long before he can get her money).  And that guy who killed the girls in Idaho. Creepy.  A Creepy Winter.

Husband successfully squished the fat fly that has been in the house....I got his pal yesterday.  Where they came from- beyond me.

Field Notes- Thursday, January 19th. Clouds in my Coffee. Library Haul!!!!!

 Something I don't own.  For Baking Bread.  A Boule.  Would I?  Doubtful.  Ten Years Ago.  Yep.

So, I followed advice and Googled "sound problems with TiVo.".. it all looked very familiar.  The unplugging and plugging back in.  The cable ID's all a mix of numbers and capital letters. What got me in trouble to begin with. ........ I will contemplate....

QVC had the Vitamix on last night.  I only got to see the last few minutes........I wish I had seen the entire show- with the prep in the machine etc.  I did see them whiz together frozen strawberries ( which I have in freezer- remember in June I went Berry Picking?????)  and Cream.  I have cream.  I even discovered I had placed the "Tamper stick" near the machine itself.  Good to go.  but it's January and I am cold.

I also discovered I can call the Vitamix company in Cleveland and they will come pick up the Vitamix- free and fix it (if it is broken) and return it- also free.  Lovely company.

The new ones come in lovely colors.  Mine is fudge Brown. Could they "fix" the color?????

I got three snowflake photo copies in the Children's Library section.  I used my heavy line  black ink pen to add additional design elements (as I do) for husband to have for his coloring work.  His Mother drew designs on inexpensive paper plates.   Then colored them.  She gave me a handful on one visit- I showed them to my parents and they stapled them to the beams in the basement ceiling.  I am reminded of seeing them there many many years later.  If I had an iPhone then I could have sent his mother a picture.

Husband had a haircut appointment.  He got up early and then went to get his haircut.  When he got home he remembered I wanted a ride to the Library to pick up books.  Now, we are back home and he is fast asleep on the couch.  Snoring a bit.

Field Notes- Wednesday, January 18th. Good Book- Up late reading it. New York Seeded Rye Toast.

 Gloves and Hot Beverages.  Weather here in Maine is an Oddity in 2023.  Snow. Sun. 40 degrees. Dark Skies and 38 degrees.  Not the Usual.  Predictions are that in the next ten years..my house will be under water.  The Atlantic Ocean will be flooding this property.  Weird, huh?  Will I even be alive?

I found New York Seeded Rye Bread made by a local bakery using Maine grown and ground wheat and grains.  When Pigs Fly.  Baked daily.  It goes bad quickly.......so I have been toasting it, layering on unsalted butter and Strawberry Rhubarb Jan.  Very stiff and difficult to chew until one gets used to it.  Taste is wonderful...... it has sour tang to it.

I am reading a 2017 small sized paperback- Helena Hunting.  Shacking Up.   It has one character from the book I read and liked very much.....I Flipping Love You.  

Oddly enough I also watched - well tried to watch a regular evening show on ABC.  When the TiVo went nuts a few weeks - or months ago and we had to restart it....I seem to have lost the ability to adjust volume on the TiVo which runs my tv.  And most of the things I watch are fine....ABC was not.. It's the Odd Detective with the little dog.  I wrote down the author's name- I will read the books. I stopped watching ABC, CBS and NBC long ago.  I can watch the show in the dining room on the other TV.   I could.  And the volume on that TV works just fine (no TiVo).  Oddly because blog people are talking about it just when I try it for the first time.........

I COULD disconnect the TV from the TiVo but I have so many things recorded on TiVo.....Series and Movies and the "to be recorded" file is huge also.  PBS.  I could watch movies all day for weeks and not run out. (skipping commercials)...  I consider the TiVo storage system to be my happy-ness fall back plan.  I select stuff and it records and then I watch it or not......but knowing it's there ready to go- is lovely.

The TiVo.........if I had an idea of what happened to the volume..I would try and fix it...but I don't know and I am not the type of person (husband is) to just open a can of worms I have no idea how to deal with.

I finished off the Chicken with Mayo and honey yesterday.  I ate some Oreo Cookie Ice Cream.

The Local (Boston) Sports Talking Heads agreed with me- Tom Brady is Done.  Totally Done. He has a deal with FOX to talk about Sports.....FOX.  Well, we will never see him talk.  We don't ever watch FOX.

Field Notes- Sunshine, close to 40 degrees, icy slush on the driveway. Library books.

 Piaggio APE.  This is what the vehicle is called.  I like it.  Three wheels.  Blue. Definitely not an Automatic.  Laughing....... I can see myself driving this into Town to the grocery and Library.  On the sidewalk.

So.  About 7 or 8 pm (yesterday) my tooth returned to normal, no longer numb.  Just as I started watching Tom Brady decompose..... he was bored... NUMB...you could see it....listless.  Didn't care.

So I turned off the tv and started reading a book by an author who has never let me down.  Yep...she let me down.  

I don't even recall the title- (Drunk on Love) I returned it this afternoon.  I got four books- all books I have read before but not ones I own.  I don't want to be disappointed again.  I also had to stop at the grocery.  Husband was running out of orange juice and  "didn't have enough cake, cookies for dessert".  Dessert is his evening MEAL.  If I ate as much dessert as he does- night after night I would be the size of an ...APE.

So tooth is good.  I have a button to sew on my sweater.  

I hand shoveled (no machinery involved) not wearing a coat, hat or gloves.....It's really warm......the front walk, the front porch steps and the back deck. I got right down to the concrete.  Husband used the snow blower.... and the driveway is still  covered in snow. Which will freeze over night unless it melts before then and will freeze as ice.. Husband was dressed for an Arctic Expedition.  

The Snow Blower repeatedly clogged up with the wet mess. Which gave him the opportunity to stick the stick into the running snow blower.......gosh!!!!!  I told him it wasn't the right thing to do.....I actually think he wanted to  run me over with the machine.......Yes, I SHOULD KEEP MY OPINIONS TO MYSELF......but I was right.  Not always....I see the mistakes I make and try and learn from then..... He never sees ANYTHING he does as a mistake.......... I see EVERY mistake I ever made....Regret them all. Would love to actually be a character in one of the books I read...get a magical do over.

Field Notes- Monday, January 16th. Snow, Ice, Wind And 8am Dentist Appointment.

 So.  Husband set the alarm for my dental appointment at 8am.  But alarm didn't got off (or he never actually set it) and I woke up at 7:50.  Got dressed quickly and we got into the car and I made it in Time. 8am or pretty close. Husband went back home to eat breakfast.  

Here it is 11:24 and my tooth is still numb.  What happened was a clean out and then a filling in the cracked molar.  I wasn't nervous.  He's a very very good Dentist.  No pain.

We were going to do Library after Dentist but they were closed.  So We moved on to Grocery.  I got Groceries  but the Prescription Section was...off line and the "machine isn't working".........so we'll make a plan to got to the Grocery Pharmacy and Library tomorrow.  Not a great day to be out on the roads. Slippery.  Wet snow.  And the plows aren't actually doing much good.  I am thinking they are doing highways right now.  I had breakfast went me got back home.

Daughter called and is not going into work so no need for the Parental Units (as she calls us) to worry about her on the road or in a ditch......it's happened.  Husband has had to go out to rescue her.  Once very late and in the snow covered DARK because a deer ran into the side of her car and she drove off into the ditch.  Husband got her out.  There was blood on the car- so the deer was injured- they looked for it for awhile.........both are soft hearted. About animals.

Yesterday I made Football Pizza  and we watched the Buffalo/Dolphins game.  Something happened to the Dolphins and their coach seemed confused (vaping) and that was that........  We moved onto the Bengals game but after 30 minutes (not even) we just gave up.......what a MESS.  I finished my book and we went to bed.

So, I have a book to read as the numbing wears off......Husband has tons of new desserts for Coffee later in the evening....he has Chicken Soup or Chicken Parm.  I am not sure what I will feel like eating once the numbing goes away.......possibly nothing but hot sweet tea.  And a NAP.

I was very very BRAVE.  I am Proud of Myself.  Joanne

Field Notes- Sunday January 15th. Did not EVEN buy a Lottery Ticket. Over a Billion Dollars. Wow.

 The Furnace is chugging away.  The San Francisco game was very good.  The second game not so much. I stopped watching after only 15 minutes.  The camera work.  

So......It's cold and DISMAL today.  The whatever it is on my neck under my chin- won't dry up and won't go away.  I thought it was because of my wool sweater--no.  Its like an aways wet itchy I don't know what. I've had things like this before.  Usually stress related when I worked at LLBean.  I had to take steroids to get rid of it after Bean..  Could be about tomorrow's 8am (yes) dental appointment.  There is lots of stress on my part.  I have Calamine Lotion on it.  Trying to DRY the wet areas. And it ITCHES,  but I do NOT touch it......... Dental is only from 8 to 9am.  So..by the Time I write to you tomorrow it will be OVER.

I had rice with peas and butter.  Yesterday.  Then Potato chips.  40% less salt.  Today I have the prepared MeatLoaf dinner with vegetables and mashed potatoes. I had forgotten I bought it.  I usually microwave the potatoes and vegetable (broccoli and carrots) and pan fry the cooked meatloaf to crisp it up a bit. I always enjoy meatloaf.  I used to actually make meatloaf.  Now I don't.

I don't do a lot of things I used to do.  Like iron all our clothing. ALL.  Now it's NONE. I even ironed pillow cases.  I did not iron socks.  I watched a guy iron socks while on a Cruise Ship once.  It's was a wonderful experience visiting the laundry room.  An older (than me) woman and I strolled around the ship looking at everything.  Smiling at everyone we made eye contact with while saying things to each other quietly.  It was marvelous.  It was her 40th wedding anniversary.  I spent most of the cruise with her as my husband had abandoned me as soon as we set foot on the boat.  Her husband was napping.

Really.  We all saw him at dinner and the entertainment after.  And that was it.  My husband showed up for dinner.  And that was it for him.  I saw him once as he walked past me on the outside deck.....He was surprised to see me (!!!) and sat down for 5 minutes, ordered me a drink and then off he went.... 

At one dinner I had some loose thread on my sparkly evening dress....and the waiter gently held my hand and extended my arm and then flicked a lighter and burned off the threads.  My husband did not LIKE that at all.  The Waiter and I smiled at each other- it was the best part of the cruise.

Field Notes- Saturday January 14th- Cold with thin layer of slippery Ice on every outdoor surface.

 Cold.  Seriously cold.  Also no Sunshine.

Made a third or fourth (I lost count) pot of Chicken Soup for husband yesterday.  Which worked out..as he likes having soup on COLD DAYS. And today is COLD.....  I had COLD yogurt and Bran Buds.  A mistake.  I should have eaten something warm.  Today I will.  I looked up Vitamix soup recipes.  But I don't have the vegetables and broth to make any of them. Well, I have vegetables.  No Broth.

My book for yesterday was one I read awhile ago and liked.  Cul-de-Sac Wars by Melissa Ferguson.  Neighbors.  The new to the neighborhood guy (rehabbing a house) has a gigantic DOG who takes one look at the woman living next door and falls deeply, hopelessly in LOVE.  Yes, the dog falls in love.  I think the guy AND the dog fall in love at the same time but the dog...doesn't wait around..just goes for it. Like lunges and knocks her over etc.  I am reminded of that happening with Riley.  I spent quite a bit of time on the ground that first few months......guess he loved me? Yes, he did.

I have  books waiting at the library.  But, we'll wait till the ice melts....... I have books here I haven't gotten to as yet.  And I need to make myself a SOUP.  I think a broth.... and then empty canned vegetables in the pantry into the broth. I have corn, beans and frozen green peas.  I also have a potato and a carrot. Sounds okay. I looked up the Vitamix Soups on the internet......I've lost the book that came with the machine. I am reminded of making a Cashew Cream of Carrot soup. I do not have any cashews in the pantry.  To make the cashew cream. And I am low on Carrots. I might just have pancakes.

My shopping list is growing.   Husband is running LOW on desserts. Getting Nervous.

I said I was going to bake a cake but I didn't.........a lot of that going around.  Not Doing.....

Field Notes- Friday, January 13th- Green Grass overnight. Whatever snow we had is gone.

 Sea Eagle.  Isn't it fantastic????

We went to bed last night and everything was Snow Covered.  And this morning- Green Grass.  It's cold. But Global Warming for the Win for another Day in January. In Maine. 

I am making another pot of Chicken Soup Today.  Good day for soup as it's colder in the house than it is outdoors.  Or seems like that.  The Panera Baked Potato Soup was reasonably Good.  Not thin and watery as was the Broccoli Cheese.  I peeled, diced and microwaved an additional potato.  Added it to the soup.  I would buy it again.  Needed onion. Or chives.  Something.  I had emptied out the Spice drawer so the old onion powder is now in the compost.  The Spice drawer is very empty.  

Going forward I will buy only the tiny jars of spices.  The 1.5 inch tall ones.

I did a load of wash yesterday.  Perhaps too many things...but everything looked nice and clean.  It all got dried and folded and put away.  Clean Undies for all.  

Hardly anything good to watch...I tried Anderson Cooper yesterday.  He tries so hard not to show his true feeling as people talk.......but it's there....in his eyes.  I might watch him more often this month.  MSNBC is getting tedious.  Actually LIFE is getting tedious.  I need new books........

 I am planning to mend a few additional holes in my dark grey button down sweater.  Mostly under the arms.  Rubbing.  And the Elbows.  The seam down the right sleeve has a multitude of holes.  I worked on the edges and a few Body spots earlier in the month.  But stopped before checking the sleeves. I am using contrasting sock yarn.  So the mending is visible. Intentional.

I started another book.  I don't like it.

So...I am going back to the kitchen to get soup going.....Joanne.

Field Notes- A Very Cold Cloudy Day in January. Winter finally here.

 This is very much like what will be happening down the street if the Twins Dad ever gets the Hockey Rink filled with water and it freezes solid.  He has even wrapped all the tall trees in his yard with lights. I saw this image on a "free" site and had to have it here. There are squirrels in the image and they tend to chew thru the light wires "in real Life down the street".

Today is finally Winter.  Depressingly dark and cold.

I missed seeing and hearing Jeffries' Alphabet Speech.  I read it in the morning paper and cut it out to include on my January Page.  It was inspiring and strong.  Like him, I think.  He would have been an excellent Speaker of the House.  Fingers crossed the "one" calls for Kevin's resignation. Soon.

I am really really perplexed by the Republican stand on abortion.  Hardly any of the new crop of hot heads has a family. They might have a wife.  But they also have a girlfriend.  Or pay someone for sex.  It's the Republican way and has been since I was first paying attention.  So Reproductive Rights should be their fall back position.  It isn't.  I wish they asked a professional to examine this issue.  Trump was against women's rights but spent time with  "Professional Sex Workers" like Stormy Daniels while married.  Would any of the Republican gamers want a child from those relationships???  Some even have been involved with teenaged girls. Like Gaetz.  Sex Trafficking. Young Girls. Like Trading Cards.

Anyway......nothing I can do about it.  I used my one vote wisely here in Maine.  All I can do.

I need to start a fresh pot of Chicken Soup.  One load of laundry in the dryer.  Then I fold and put away. I was nearly out of underwear.......can't have that.  Finishing off my twice reheated coffee.  Then what??? I do have dishes to wash.  That's about it for today- Thursday.  What are you all doing???? Joanne.

Field Notes- Wednesday, January 11th. Sunshine temps in the 20's. Dentist.

 I've loaded the desktop with new images.  So...I hope you like them in the days and weeks ahead..

Today began early.  I had a 10 am Dentist appointment.  I still missed out on breakfast and just had my oatmeal a few minutes ago- 2pm. My husband set the alarm for 9.  After my teeth got cleaned I had a procedure done on my lower front tooth.  It's now smooth where it was rough and uneven and slightly "pinging" from being "chipped".  Monday I go back and have "serious" work done on the second from the back upper tooth. Right side.  It's cracked.  It's getting a "line" of silver inserted into the crack.  Sounds awful.... I will need massive amounts of tooth numbing.  The big long needle. Shivering.

The Smoke detector alarms having been "binging" for awhile here in the house.  With husband's hearing aids- they were driving him insane.  More insane.  We came home from the Dentist and unhooked them. Needed to go out again and buy fresh batteries for them........ if we had been ACTUALLY THINKING...the dentist is close to the Grocery.....and the Library where we also stopped on the second trip to pick up ONE book....... Two 9 volt batteries were ten bucks.  The other brand- 14 bucks.

I also saw two packages of still HOT Baked Chicken Breast in the Grocery Deli case..  They have NOW been picked and shredded and coated in honey and mayo.  I haven't had a good meal in DAYS.  Yesterday it was yogurt, bran buds and thawed frozen strawberries.  For the DAY.  (after oatmeal for breakfast) My regular pants are easy to button at the waist these days.  In fact- the oldest ones (smaller) are loose.   The newer ones (larger) fall off......... I look the same.  Well, my face looks "less"...........It looks old. Tired.

Because...I am.  Old......Tired..........Haggard.  I also bought 40% less salt Potato Chips.  No longer sell the 60% less salt ones.  I prefer 60%.  I have store brand cheese crackers.  Taste exactly like Goldfish.

I also bought Panera's Cream of Baked Potato Soup.  One small tub.  Just to test the waters. I might steam one of the potatoes I have in the vegetable basket.  Add it in small dice.  For BULK.  I also have a small leftover bit of shredded cheddar.  It can be clean out the crisper soup.

I couldn't find a loaf of bread that SPOKE to me.  I really wanted a nice Dense New York Seeded Rye.  Sigh. My Grandmother made a really GREAT Seeded Rye.  Old World Style.  A real workout for the teeth and jaws.

Daughter brought over Christmas yesterday after work.  Complete Louise Penny Series and Complete Nesbo Police series.  THEN we put my Romances in order and then I gave her the list of what's missing. She spent time looking at my bookcase and the Trade paper I am buying one or two at a time. So she knows what I have.  Her favorite HOBBY is looking for books.  Hunting for Books.

Today's Book-"I flipping Love you"  Helena Hunting.  I may have read it.  Flipping Houses. We'll see.